Bell striker



DCC. 19, Q R. DAVIS BELL STRIKER Filed Feb. 17, 1933 1 N VEN TOR.

Ax F Patented Dec. 19, 1933v 1,940,206 4 VBELL STRIKER Chester R. Davis,`Alameda, Calif. Y Application February 17, 1933. `Serial No. 657,246

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in bell strikers in which individually distinct strokes are made with a moving striker or hammer on a stationary bell; and the objects of my improvement are, rst, to provide means whereby the movement of a swinging striker or hammer may be produced directly by the movement of a reciprocating mechanism, such as a hydraulic, pneumatic, orsteam ram, or that combination of electric motor and hydraulic pump and piston known as a thrustor, or any other suitable reciprocating mechanism; second, to provide a bell striking device which may be built and/or readily altered to cause either one, two, or three strokes, as desired, to be made by a single thrust and return of the reciprocating mechanism; third, to provide a bell striking device which is compact, and Whose mechanism is enclosed against the weather, rendering it suitable for 20 installation as a'fog or other signal in exposed locations; fourth, to provide a bell striking device which lends itself readily to synchronization with other bells or other adjacent signals; fifth, when the reciprocating movement is vertical, to provide automatic and continuous lubrication to `all bearing and moving surfaces.

I attain these objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the device 30 on the line 1-1, Fig. 2; Figure 2 is a plan secf tion on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the shaft with spiral grooves for two strokes and one stroke, respectively, instead of the groove for three strokes as shown in Fig. 1.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts thruout the several views.

The shaft 1 is connected at one end 18 to a reciprocating mechanism, not shown, whose stroke is definitely limited at each end. The spiral groove 2 cut in the shaft, is made to agree in length, with slight clearances, with the stroke of the reciprocating mechanism. This shaft 1 is free to move endwise in a rigidly supported sleeve 3 but is restrained from any rotation by the sliding keys 4 and 4. The striker hub 5 is keyed in the spiral groove 2 by a key pin or bolt 6. When the shaft 1 is moved endwise, the key 6 is forced to follow the groove 2 and the striker is rotated in accordance therewith. The groove 2 may be cut with a greater or less pitch or with a varying pitch, to give a desired speed or acceleration of stroke, or to correct for varying characteristics `of the applied reciprocating movement. The groove may also be varied to result in a greater or less angle of rotation in the movement of the striker. The groove shown in Fig.

4 will cause a single stroke at the end of the thrust movement of the shaft 1, the return movement bringing the striker back to its central position. The groove in Fig. 3 will cause one stroke during the thrust movement, the striker returning to its central position at the end of the thrust, and a second stroke during the return movement. The groove shown in the assembly, Fig. 1, is a three stroke groove, the right hand hammer 7 striking during the thrust, the left hand hammer 8 at the end of the thrust, and the right hand hammer again during the return movement. When the relative positions of the striker and the bell 19 are properly adjusted, the stroke will be stopped by the striking of the hammer against the bell, and not by the pressure of the key pin against the side of the groove.

'I'heoperation of the spiral groove and the i5 rotating striker will be practically identical whether the shaft and its movement are vertical or horizontal. I prefer the vertical position, and have shown the bearings and the lubrication arranged accordingly. If the horizontal position is used, I would prefer a rearrangement of the bearings, placing them on either side of the striker hub.

In the arrangement shown, I have indicated ball bearings 9 and 10 of the so called deep groove type, for reducing friction in the movement of the rotating member. The lower bearing 10 is arranged to take thrust in either direction and radial load. The upper bearing 9 is arranged to take radial load only. The inner races of these bearings are fixed rigidly tothe sleeve 3 by means of the spacer 11 and threaded collar 12. The outer race' of the lower bearing 10 is heid tightly in the rotating housing 15 by a filler ring 13, which fits tightly between the i; bearing raceV and the striker hub 5. The outer race of the upper bearing 9 has a relatively light fit in the housing, and is left free to adjust itself vertically therein. This is done to facilitate assembly and to insure the absence of unnecessary initial stress in the ball bearings. The cover plate 14 is bolted over the end of the housing to prevent the entrance of dirt and water into the bearing space. The striker hub 5, which carries the hammer or hammers 7 and 8, is bolted'V vto the lower end of the housing 15 as shown.

The key ways in the bore of the hub at 16 are cut to facilitate the removal and replacement of the shaft l which carries with it the sliding keys 4 and 4. A hole is bored along the center of the? U0 shaft 1 to permit the free passage of air in and out of the chamber above the shaft as the shaft moves up and down. To prevent the dripping of lubricating oil down this hole, a breather cap 17 is fitted in the hole at the top of the shaft.

The lubrication feed pipe 20 leads from an oil reservoir which may be located at any convenient point above the bell striker. The oil is fed thru a ball valve 21. A small pipe plunger 22 provides a passage for the oil from the valve into the chamber at the top of the sleeve 3. As the shaft 1 approaches the top of its stroke, the cap 17 strikes the plunger 22 and lifts it suiciently to open the ball valve slightly. Suitable slots in the plunger 22 keep the oil passage open when the plunger is in contact with both theV ball and the cap. The oil runs down on top of the cap 17 from whence it spreads over the top of the shaft 1, and thence to the inner Walls of the sleeve 3 and the key ways for the sliding keys 4 and 4. Holes at 23 in the Walls of the sleeve '3. permit the oil to pass thru to the upper bearof the sleeve 3 will also lubricate the groove 2 and the end of the key pin 6.

I claim:

A bell striking device comprising a shaft provided With a guide Way cut therein from the outer surface thereof at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; a rigidly supported sleeve Within which the shaft is arranged to recipro-- cate; a sliding key fitted in keyWays n the surface of the said shaft and in the inside surface of the said sleeve, and so disposed as to prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the sleeve, While freely permitting the required reciprocating movement; a hub to which is attached a striking member, which hub is disposed about the said shaft and is supported by the said sleeve and arranged to rotate thereon; a key attached to the hub and arranged to follow the said guide Way, thereby giving to the hub and to the striking member a rotative movement when the said shaft is moved longitudinally;r all substantially as shown and described.

CHESTER R. DAVIS.

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